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Gho Visited Myanmar, Seeks Closer Ties
By V. Jayanth
The Hindu
26 March 1998
 
Singapore, March 25: In another show of Asian solidarity, Singapore's
Prime Minister, Mr. Goh Chok Tong, today wrapped up a one-and-a-half day
visit to Myanmar, stressing the need for closer economic cooperation.
 
He is the third head of government of Asean to visit Yangon after Myanmar
was admitted to the Southeast Asian regional grouping in 1997. The
Malaysian leader, Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the Philippines President, Mr.
Fidel Ramos, were the two others.
 
Singapore is Myanmar's second largest investor, after Britain, and so the
Asean's leading player for the country. Accompanying Mr Goh was his
Foreign Minister. Prof. S. Jayakumar, and an 18-member business delegation
led by Mr. S. Chandra Das.
 
Apart from the one-to-one meeting the Mr Goh had with the military junta
leader, Senior General Than Shwe, yesterday, the Singapore Delegation had
a detailed review of bilateral relations and Asean programmes with the
Secretary I of the State Peace and Development Council, Lt. Gen. Khin
Nyunt, and others members of the ruling council.
 
The focus was on the regional economic crisis and the steps that Yangon
should take to become a more attractive business. According to sources,
the foreign exchange crunch in Myanmar, the yawning gap between the duel
rates to the U.S. dollar in Yangon, import restrictions and bottlenecks in
repatriating profits were the key issues that had to be resolved before
enhancing trade and investment relations.
 
Most of Singapore's investment were in the hotels and real estate areas
and these were flattening out since the economy was not picking up and the
regional crisis had adversely affected the flow of tourists and
businessmen into Myanmar.
 
The two countries signed an agreement exempting diplomatic and official
passport holders from visa requirements to visit the other country. This
was intended to signal closer cooperation.
 
Mr. Goh and his delegation flew to Bangkok in the afternoon, for a short
visit to Thailand, Singapore was expected to reassure the Thai government
of full cooperation in seeing through the economic crisis and also to
encourage more investment into Thailand. Quite a few projects and joint
ventures were planned on the new eastern seaboard being developed there.

Burma Info (CCN)
New Delhi